FDT Group™, an international, non-profit industry association supporting the evolution of FDT® technology for industrial device management, recently announced that the PACTware Consortium eV released its latest software version, PACTware 6.1, based on the latest FDT3 standard. PACTware 6.1 is one of the first FDT3 stand-alone device configuration environments available. The software tool’s source code is available to the PACTware Consortium membership, which consists of 22 automation vendors who offer the FDT-enabled hosting product to the user community at no cost. By leveraging the modern FDT3 Unified Environment for intelligent device management, PACTware 6.1 users will enjoy the ability to support their current FDT DTM install base and support modern FDT3 web-based DTMs that are scalable for IIoT architectures. This release also supports integration with FDI Device Packages.

Suppliers of industrial automation systems and devices want to provide solutions that enable the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). To meet their customers’ needs, it is vital for suppliers to enhance their system and device offerings with standards-based, platform-independent, information-driven business models. The new FDT3 standard is accelerating the digital manufacturing journey by enabling an ecosystem of FDT-based solutions providing a unified environment for industrial device management with IT/OT data-driven operations.

Stating that upgrading to FDT3 is a critical step to serve the best interests of the broad automation market and its diverse membership looking for next-generation intelligent device management solutions, Holger Sack, Chairman of the Board, PACTware Consortium eV, says: “The updated PACTware 6.1 application empowers users with the flexibility to deploy their choice of device data model that now supports both FDI and FDT3 DTMs with a simple and recognizable tool to configure a wide range of field components, independent of the manufacturer or protocol deployed. This minimizes the amount of work involved, ensures application safety, and reduces training requirements.”

In addition to the new FDT3 standard that fully describes the FDT Desktop environment and FDT web-based device DTM, the standard also defines a cloud-based FDT Server environment for distributed control. The new FDT3 DTM and FDT Server are OPC UA- and mobile-ready without any coding, allowing users an easy-to-use and scalable migration path of OT data to IT enterprise applications. Steve Biegacki, Managing Director, FDT Group, asserts, “The PACTware Consortium is a leader for products based on the FDT standard. The solution is widely deployed today as the most popular FDT Desktop point-to-point application, simplifying configuration, operation, and maintenance practices.” Mentioning that by supporting FDT3, PACTware 6.1 future proofs its platform and expands integration capabilities while supporting the millions of device DTMs in service today, he adds, “Additionally, it creates a path for the FDT Server environment, providing workforce mobility solutions as well as data harmonization for enterprise-wide applications. This is a huge win for the industry.”

 For more information: www.PACTware.com/www.fdtgroup.org